Crewkerne man Aaron Hodges guilty of criminal damage after throwing stones at ex's home as party went on inside

CONCERNED for the safety of his children when he saw a party was still going on at his ex’s house in the early morning, a Crewkerne man tried to get inside to find out what was going on.

Aaron Keith Hodges started throwing stones at a window and was shouting at the victim, but when he tried to get in through the door he broke the handle leaving it unable to be opened or locked.

As a result of the incident the victim made a statement to the police saying she had had enough of the defendant and he had left her feeling mentally drained and did not feel safe in her own home any more.

She said: “I fear he may turn up at any given time and he is persistent and is a bully who controls me.

“I cannot go out for fear of bumping into him and the consequences that may follow and I don’t want any contact with him.”

The 26-year-old defendant, of Rhydderch Way, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to a door handle belonging to his former partner at her home in Crewkerne on April 1 when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates.

Prosecutor Christine Hart said that the police were called to an address in Crewkerne at 7.40am where Hodges was throwing stones at the windows.

“He was shouting and being aggressive and said he was concerned for the safety of the complainant, but when he saw them he ran off,” she said.

“The complainant said that Hodges had broken her door lock while trying to gain entry to the property without her permission and it would now not open or lock,” she said.

“During interview with the police the defendant said he was on his way home and passed her house and decided to go in to see his children but said the door was locked and his ex wouldn’t let him in so he forced the door and the handle broke.”

Defending solicitor Chris Ivory said that Hodges did not use any threatening behaviour and said he had just been driving past the address and noticed that there was clearly a party going on and knew his children were inside.

“He intended to go in and ask if it was really appropriate for a party to be still going on at 7.40am, but that turned into an argument and he accepted grabbing the door handle and causing the damage,” he said.

“He said the damage was caused recklessly and knew he should not have been trying to get into the house without permission, however he was a father and was concerned about the safety of his children while the party was going on.”

He said that Hodges walked away when the police arrived and was genuinely sorry for the damage he caused, which was not his intention.

The magistrates fined the defendant £185 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

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